The first season of Canada's Drag Race premiered on July 2, 2020.[1] The cast was announced on May 14, 2020.[1] The winner of the first season of Canada’s Drag Race was Priyanka, with Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo as runners-up.[2]
Casting occurred in mid-2019 with production starting in fall 2019.[3] On September 26, 2019, it was announced that the judges panel will include RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 runner-up Brooke Lynn Hytes, actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and fashion model Stacey McKenzie.[4] Bell Media personality Traci Melchor also appeared as a recurring cast member, with the title "Canada's Squirrel Friend";[4] her role entailed participatory support in challenges, including co-judging the Canada Gay-M mini-challenge, hosting a sheTalk red carpet segment prior to Snatch Game, and serving as one of the judges of the Miss Loose Jaw pageant. Melchor also appeared as the special guest host for the season finale.
The season consisted of ten one-hour episodes.[5]
The Season 1 queens participated in a Canada's Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza reunion special, airing on Crave September 6, 2021, in advance of the second season launch.[6]
In January 2022, it was announced that Jimbo and Lemon would appear as contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World. Lemon finished in ninth place, while Jimbo placed seventh overall.
In October 2022 Rita Baga was announced as a contestant on the first season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World where she finished as a finalist.
On July 21, 2023, Jimbo was declared the winner of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Contestants
Ages, names, and cities stated are at time of filming.
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priyanka | 28 | Toronto, Ontario | Winner |
| Rita Baga | 32 | Montreal, Quebec | Runners-up |
| Scarlett BoBo | 29 | Toronto, Ontario | |
| Jimbo | 36 | Victoria, British Columbia | 4th place |
| Lemon | 23 | New York City, United States | 5th place |
| Ilona Verley | 24 | Vancouver, British Columbia | 6th place |
| BOA[a] | 24 | Windsor, Ontario | 7th place |
| Kiara[b] | 22 | Montreal, Quebec | 8th place |
| Tynomi Banks | 38 | Toronto, Ontario | 9th place |
| Anastarzia Anaquway | 37 | East York, Ontario | 10th place |
| Kyne | 21 | Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario | 11th place |
| Juice Boxx | 31 | Essex, Ontario | 12th place |
- Notes
Contestant progress
Legend:
| Contestant | Episode | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[7] | 2[8] | 3[9] | 4[10] | 5[11] | 6[12] | 7[13] | 8[14] | 9[15] | 10[16] | |
| Priyanka | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | BTM | WIN | SAFE | Winner |
| Rita Baga | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | BTM | BTM | Runner-up |
| Scarlett BoBo | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | Runner-up |
| Jimbo | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest |
| Lemon | BTM | WIN | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | WIN | ELIM | Guest | |
| Ilona Verley | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | BTM | SAFE | BTM | ELIM | Guest | ||
| BOA | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | |||
| Kiara | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | ||||
| Tynomi Banks | SAFE | BTM | BTM | ELIM | Guest | |||||
| Anastarzia Anaquway | SAFE | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | ||||||
| Kyne | SAFE | ELIM | Guest | |||||||
| Juice Boxx | ELIM | Guest | ||||||||
Lip syncs
Legend:
| Episode | Contestants | Song | Eliminated | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1[7] | Juice Boxx | vs. | Lemon | "I Really Like You" (Carly Rae Jepsen) |
Juice Boxx |
| 2[8] | Kyne | vs. | Tynomi Banks | "If You Could Read My Mind" (Amber, Jocelyn Enriquez, Ultra Naté) |
Kyne |
| 3[9] | Anastarzia Anaquway | vs. | Tynomi Banks | "Absolutely Not (Chanel Club Mix)" (Deborah Cox) |
Anastarzia Anaquway |
| 4[10] | Ilona Verley | vs. | Tynomi Banks | "Girlfriend" (Avril Lavigne) |
Tynomi Banks |
| 5[11] | Kiara | vs. | Priyanka | "I Drove All Night" (Celine Dion) |
Kiara |
| 6[12] | BOA | vs. | Ilona Verley | "Scars to Your Beautiful" (Alessia Cara) |
BOA |
| 7[13] | Ilona Verley | vs. | Priyanka | "Hello" (Allie X) |
Ilona Verley |
| 8[14] | Lemon | vs. | Rita Baga | "You Oughta Know" (Alanis Morissette) |
Lemon |
| 9[15] | Jimbo | vs. | Rita Baga | "Closer" (Tegan and Sara) |
Jimbo |
| Episode | Final contestants | Song | Winner | ||
| 10[16] | Priyanka vs. Rita Baga vs. Scarlett BoBo | "You're a Superstar" (Love Inc.) |
Priyanka | ||
Guest hosts
The guest host of a Canada's Drag Race episode performs much of RuPaul's role in a regular Ru-hosted season, including the introductions to the runway and Lip Sync for Your Life segments, and delivers commentary as a judge, but does not have a direct say in determining the winners or losers of the challenges and lip-syncs.[17] Season 1 guest hosts included:
- Elisha Cuthbert, actress
- Jade Hassouné, actor, dancer and singer
- Deborah Cox, singer-songwriter and actress
- Evan Biddell, designer
- Mary Walsh, actress, comedian and actor
- Tom Green, comedian and actor
- Allie X, singer-songwriter
- Amanda Brugel, actress
- Michelle Visage, American singer, TV personality and main judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under and RuPaul's Drag Race UK
- Traci Melchor, television personality
Special guests
Guests who appeared in episodes, but did not judge on the main stage.
Episode 1
- Matt Barnes, photographer
Episode 3 and 10
- Ralph, singer
- Hollywood Jade, choreographer
Episode 5
- Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, interior decorators and television presenters
Episode 6
- Crystal, contestant on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK
Episode 7
- Stefan Brogren, actor and producer
- Michelle DuBarry, Canadian drag queen
Episode 9
- Sabrina Jalees, comedian
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Eh-laganza Eh-xtravaganza" | July 2, 2020 | |
|
Twelve new queens enter the workroom. For the first mini-challenge, the queens do a photoshoot atop a replica of the Rocky Mountains. Kyne wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create a couture outfit from a box of items themed around various aspects of Canada.
On the runway, BOA, Jimbo and Rita Baga receive positive critiques, with Rita Baga winning the challenge. Juice Boxx, Kyne and Lemon receive negative critiques, with Kyne being safe. Juice Boxx and Lemon lip-sync to "I Really Like You" by Carly Rae Jepsen. Lemon wins the lip-sync and Juice Boxx is the first queen to sashay away.
| ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Her-itage Moments" | July 9, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens get into quick drag and audition for a role as a ballerina in "The Nutsmacker". Anastarzia Anaquway and BOA win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up and overact in parodies of Heritage Minutes.
On the runway, category is Not My First Time. Jimbo, Kiara, Lemon and Priyanka receive positive critiques, with Lemon winning the challenge. BOA, Kyne and Tynomi Banks receive negative critiques, with BOA being safe. Kyne and Tynomi Banks lip-sync to "If You Could Read My Mind" by Ultra Naté, Amber, and Jocelyn Enriquez. Tynomi Banks wins the lip-sync and Kyne sashays away.
| ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Not Sorry Aboot It" | July 16, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens get into quick drag and perform an audition for the morning show "Canada Gay M" while reading from a teleprompter in English, French, and "Draglish". Lemon and Priyanka win the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens write, record, and perform verses to "Not Sorry Aboot It".
On the runway, category is Que-Becky With the Good Hair. BOA, Lemon and Priyanka receive positive critiques, with Priyanka winning the challenge. Anastarzia Anaquway, Ilona Verley, Kiara and Tynomi Banks receive negative critiques, with Ilona Verley and Kiara being safe. Anastarzia Anaquway and Tynomi Banks lip-sync to "Absolutely Not (Chanel Club Mix)" by Deborah Cox. Tynomi Banks wins the lip-sync and Anastarzia Anaquway sashays away.
| ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Single-Use Queens" | July 23, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens play a memory game with the pit crew's underwear colors. Jimbo wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up to create a cohesive fashion line made out of garbage.
On the runway, team Plastic is the winning team, with Rita Baga winning the challenge. Team Metal and Team Paper are the losing teams. BOA, Ilona Verley, Jimbo and Tynomi Banks receive negative critiques, with BOA and Jimbo being safe. Ilona Verley and Tynomi Banks lip-sync to "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne. Ilona Verley wins the lip-sync and Tynomi Banks sashays away.
| ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Snatch Game" | July 30, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens read each other to filth. Lemon wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens play the Snatch Game. Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan star as the celebrity contestants. The cast consisted of:
On the runway, category is Night of a Thousand Céline Dion's. Jimbo, Lemon and Rita Baga receive positive critiques, with Jimbo winning the challenge. BOA, Kiara and Priyanka receive negative critiques, with BOA being safe. Kiara and Priyanka lip-sync to "I Drove All Night" by Céline Dion. Priyanka wins the lip-sync and Kiara sashays away.
| ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Star Sixty-Nine" | August 6, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens get into quick drag and play psychic hotline operators. Lemon wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens team up to write and produce commercials for fictional drag queen law firms.
On the runway, category is Canadian 'Tuck'-shedo. Jimbo, Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo receive positive critiques, with Rita Baga winning the challenge. BOA, Ilona Verley and Lemon receive negative critiques, with Lemon being safe. BOA and Ilona Verley lip-sync to "Scars to Your Beautiful" by Alessia Cara. Ilona Verley wins the lip-sync and BOA sashays away.
| ||||
| 7 | 7 | "Miss Loose Jaw" | August 13, 2020 | |
|
For this week's main challenge, the queens compete in The Miss Loose Jaw Pageant.
On the runway, category is Pageant Perfection. Lemon and Scarlett BoBo receive positive critiques, with Lemon winning the challenge. Ilona Verley, Jimbo and Priyanka receive negative critiques, with Jimbo being safe. Ilona Verley and Priyanka lip-sync to "Hello" by Allie X. Priyanka wins the lip-sync and Ilona Verley sashays away.
| ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Welcome to the Family" | August 20, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens have a bitchfest with puppets. Scarlett BoBo wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens Makeover LGBT refugees who have recently moved to Canada through Rainbow Railroad. On the runway, category is A Family Affair. Priyanka and Scarlett BoBo receive positive critiques, with Priyanka winning the challenge. Jimbo, Lemon and Rita Baga receive negative critiques, with Jimbo being safe. Lemon and Rita Baga lip-sync to "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette. Rita Baga wins the lip-sync and Lemon sashays away.
| ||||
| 9 | 9 | "The Snow Ball" | August 27, 2020 | |
|
For this week's mini-challenge, the queens sing "O Canada" as a local chanteuse. Rita Baga wins the mini-challenge. For the main challenge, the queens create three looks for The Snow Ball: Executive Holiday Party Realness, Icy Walk of Shame and Ice Queen Eleganza. On the runway, Scarlett BoBo wins the challenge. Jimbo and Rita Baga receive negative critiques, and are announced as the bottom two. They lip-sync to "Closer" by Tegan and Sara. Rita Baga wins the lip-sync and Jimbo sashays away.
| ||||
| 10 | 10 | "U Wear It Well" | September 3, 2020 | |
|
For the final challenge of the season, the queens write, record and perform verses to a remix of RuPaul's "U Wear It Well" On the runway, category is Coronation Eleganza. The eliminated queens all return to the runway. The three finalists are told that they will be lip-syncing to "You're a Superstar" by Love Inc.. It is announced that Priyanka is the winner, leaving Rita Baga and Scarlett BoBo as the runners-up.
| ||||
Post-production
Drag Ball and Drag Superstars
Separately from the production of the series, all of the queens from the season participated in Pride events for both Pride Toronto and Fierté Montreal, presented as online streaming specials due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. The Toronto event, Drag Ball presented by Crave, was streamed on June 27,[18] and the Montreal event, Drag Superstars, was streamed on August 14.[19] The Toronto special was directly produced by Crave; the Montreal event was produced by a separate company, but received some production assistance and sponsorship from Crave and the Canada's Drag Race production team.
Canada's Drag Race Live at the Drive-In
Following the conclusion of the season, the cast announced a cross-Canada tour, to be performed at drive-in venues due to the ongoing social distancing restrictions remaining in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] Brooke Lynn Hytes hosted, and Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo and Rita Baga were scheduled to appear at every date on the tour, while other cast members would perform at selected dates based on availability;[21] ultimately, however, both Priyanka and Brooke Lynn Hytes had to miss a couple of later dates after being forced to self-isolate due to COVID-19 exposure.[22]
Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo, Rita Baga and Jimbo also participated in an online panel as part of the 2020 Just for Laughs festival.[23]
Awards
| Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Nominees | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Screen Awards | May 17–20, 2021 | Best Reality/Competition Program or Series | Michael Kot, Laura Michalchyshyn, Betty Orr, Mike Bickerton, Pam McNair, RuPaul Charles, Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Tom Campbell, Randy Lennox, Tracey Pearce | Won | [24] |
| Best Host or Presenter in Factual or Reality/Competition | Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Stacey McKenzie | Won | |||
| Best Casting | Heather Muir | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction in a Reality/Competition Series | Shelagh O'Brien — "U Wear It Well" | Won | |||
| Best Writing in a Reality/Competition Series | Mike Bickerton, Elvira Kurt, Jen Markowitz — "Welcome to the Family" | Won | |||
| Best Sound in a Non-Fiction Series | John Diemer, Scott Brachmeyer, Daniel Hewett, Dane Kelly, Sarah Labadie, Carlo Scrignaro, Rob Taylor — "U Wear It Well" | Nominated | |||
| Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Fiction Series | Peter Faragher — "Eh-Laganza Eh-Xtravaganza" | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Performance in a Web Program or Series | Priyanka — Drag Ball | Nominated | |||
| Best Host in a Web Program or Series | Traci Melchor — Drag Ball | Nominated | |||
| Audience Choice Award | Priyanka | Nominated | [25] | ||
| April 10, 2022 | Best Variety or Entertainment Special | Canada’s Drag Race Anniversary Extravaganza | Won | [26] | |
| American Reality Television Awards | July 8, 2021 | International Reality Series | Canada's Drag Race | Nominated | [27] |
References
- ^ a b "These Are 'Canada's Drag Race' Season 1 Queens". Out. 14 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
- ^ Suzanne Lapointe, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ makes herstory with its first ever Queen of the North" Archived 2021-09-10 at the Wayback Machine. eTalk, September 3, 2020.
- ^ "'RuPaul's Drag Race' getting Canadian adaptation for Crave and OUTtv". CTV News. Canadian Press. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Three fabulous judges, and one squirrel friend, are ready to preside over ‘Canada’s Drag Race’" Archived 2021-01-15 at the Wayback Machine. eTalk, September 26, 2019.
- ^ "RuPaul's 'Drag Race Canada' to serve meaty tucks and Canadian bacon". Entertainment Weekly. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
- ^ Chantal Cyr, "Une émission spéciale de Canada’s Drag Race en septembre" Archived 2021-08-30 at the Wayback Machine. Fugues, August 30, 2021.
- ^ a b "Eh-laganza Eh-xtravaganza". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 1. 2 July 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Her-itage Moments". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 2. 9 July 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Not Sorry Aboot It". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 3. 16 July 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Single Use Queens". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 4. 23 July 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Snatch Game". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 5. 30 July 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Star Sixty-Nine". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 6. 6 August 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Miss Loose Jaw". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 7. 13 August 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the Family". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 8. 20 August 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "The Snow Ball". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 9. 27 August 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ a b "U Wear It Well". Canada's Drag Race. Season 1. Episode 10. 3 September 2020. Crave / WOW Presents Plus.
- ^ Bianca Guzzo, "Canada, Start Your Engines: IN Chats With The Judges Of Canada’s Drag Race" Archived 2020-12-01 at the Wayback Machine. IN Magazine, June 30, 2020.
- ^ Pahull Bains, "11 Virtual Pride 2020 Events Taking Place Across Canada" Archived 2021-04-25 at the Wayback Machine. Fashion, June 25, 2020.
- ^ André-Constantin Passiour, "Une édition canadienne toute spéciale de Drag Superstars"[permanent dead link]. Fugues, August 9, 2020.
- ^ Peter Knegt, "All hail our queen: A conversation with Canada's Drag Race winner Priyanka" Archived 2021-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. CBC Arts, September 10, 2020.
- ^ Tyler Jadah, "Canada's Drag Race is coming to Montreal's drive-in venue this month" Archived 2020-10-02 at the Wayback Machine. Daily Hive, September 10, 2020.
- ^ Woods, Mel (13 November 2020). "'Canada's Drag Race' Winner Priyanka Got COVID-19 From Brooke Lynn Hytes". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Jenelle Riley, "For Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Show Will Go On(line)" Archived 2020-10-13 at the Wayback Machine. Variety, October 2, 2020.
- ^ Victoria Ahearn, "‘Canada’s Drag Race’ earns victory lap with leading five Canadian Screen Awards" Archived 2021-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Star, May 17, 2021.
- ^ "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees" Archived 2021-03-16 at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, March 16, 2021.
- ^ Greg David, "Corner Gas Animated, The Hardy Boys, Mary Berg and Canada’s Drag Race win during Night 3 of the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards". TV, eh?, April 6, 2022.
- ^ "Canada's Drag Race - Nominee". Reality Television Awards. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
This page was last edited on 28 March 2024, at 07:46